Join us at Windmill Island Gardens for the second installment of our children’s summer
series, Books and Blooms! Every Monday through August 10, our friends from the Herrick District Library
will kick off each Books and Blooms with a story time starting at 10:00 am followed by a fun hands-on
activity led by community partners starting at 10:30 am! Families can enjoy activities and learn about
things like planting, water conservation, wind, pollinators, and more! After the hands-on activity families
can also enjoy our carousel and playground at our park!
This Monday during Books and Blooms, our very own Horticulture Team here at Windmill Island Gardens
will help kids in a ‘build-a-bug’ activity with sticker sheets, and guide them in decorating their very own
biodegradable planters and planting flower starts grown right here in our greenhouse! Children can take
home their plant starts and put their planter cups right into the ground to watch grow in their gardens at
home!
Families are invited to Windmill Island Gardens every Monday morning for our weekly Books
and Blooms series from 10:00 am – 11:30 am through August 10. This weekly Books and Blooms
series will begin with an interactive Story Time hosted by the Herrick District Library starting at 10:00 am,
followed by a come-and-go style activity led by a local non-profit organization from 10:30 am until 11:30
am. The full schedule of activities can be found below, and on the Books and Blooms Facebook event
page. Activities are free to attend for all; just mention you are there for the series at the admission booth.
A parent or guardian must remain onsite the entire time to supervise their children. Activities take place in
the park on the East side of the Posthouse building at Windmill Island Gardens (1 Lincoln Ave, Holland,
MI, 49423).
For more details on Books and Blooms and other upcoming events at Windmill Island Gardens, visit
www.windmillisland.com/events-and-programs. Windmill Island Gardens is open daily from 9:30am –
6:00pm (last admission sold at 5:00pm) through October 4.
Upcoming Books & Blooms Dates
Monday, June 29
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore – Painting Garden Markers: Rocks and paints will be provided as
well as examples of garden markers. These markers are used to identify plants, flowers and fruits that are
planted in your garden!
Monday, July 6
Outdoor Discovery Center Network – Beautiful Blooms and Water Drops: Learn about the relationship
between native plants and improved water quality with fun activities, like looking at aquatic insects,
making pollinators, and seeing healthy roots and soil. We'll have coloring, make-your-own-button, and
more!
Monday, July 13
Holland Parks and Recreation – Yard Games and Planting: Decorate personal-sized pots and plant seeds
with Holland Parks and Recreation! Take home your new plant and enjoy caring for it while watching it
grow. Holland Parks and Recreation will provide all necessary materials as well as supply fun yard games
and activities for all Books and Bloom participants to enjoy!
Monday, July 20
Holland Board of Public Works - Native Plants and Water Conservation: BPW will teach kids about how
native plants help with water conservation through crafting a guide on plant needs! Kids will match words
and pictures to learn the steps to plant care. Cut, draw, color and fold these engaging guides to learn
what a plant needs as you unfold!
Monday, July 27
Aqua Tots Swim School – Scoop and Splash & Under the Sea Bookmarks: This is a hands-on activity
where kids use cups and scoops to pour, splash, and play in water that is held in mini-inflatable pools.
There will be fun mini challenges like moving water from one bucket to the next and scoop up as many
ducks as you can in 5 seconds. For those who don't want to play in water, there will also be a create your
own under the sea bookmark station!
Monday, August 3
MSU Extension 4-H – Egg Carton Seed Starters: Kids will get to start their own herb garden by planting
seeds in an egg carton so they can take them home to grow! The egg carton provides just enough room
for these seeds to start growing and makes it easy to move your garden indoor or outdoor!
Monday, August 10
Explore Hope – A Garden to Save the Birds: Join Explore hope in making “seed bombs” for families to
take home and place in their garden supporting birds, insects and pollinators! This activity promotes
planting wildflowers to support the ecosystem as well as promoting awareness of how to make your yard
and garden more bird and pollinator friendly.
